Cantonese Dim Sum$$east-villageMon-Tue 11:30-20:00, Wed-Thu 11:30-20:30, Fri 11:30-21:00, Sat 11:00-21:00, Sun 11:00-20:00
Tim Ho Wan on Fourth Avenue runs the New York City branch of the Hong Kong dim sum house, the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world.
Signature: Baked BBQ pork buns, Steamed pork ribs, Shrimp har gow
Order: Baked BBQ pork buns, three to an order, ordered the moment you sit down.
Tip: Off-peak hours are 14:30-17:00 weekdays; weekend lunch hits a 45-minute wait by 12:30.
Chinese$$chinatownDaily 11:00-23:00
Joe's Shanghai on Bowery has popularised the soup dumpling in Manhattan's Chinatown in New York City since 1997. Priced at $$. Kitchen leans chinese.
Signature: Soup dumplings, Drunken crab
Order: Pork-and-crab xiao long bao, eight per basket.
Tip: No reservations; expect 30 minutes at peak weekend lunch. Bring cash to speed up the tab.
Russian$$brighton-beachMon-Thu 11:00-21:00, Fri 11:00-23:00, Sat 11:00-02:00, Sun 11:00-23:00
Tatiana Cafe on the Brighton Beach boardwalk has run Russian-Ukrainian family meals in New York City since 1990. Borscht, pelmeni, blini, ocean-front tables.
Signature: Pelmeni, Beef stroganoff
Order: Pelmeni in butter, with sour cream on the side.
Tip: Live music on weekend evenings runs late. Order from the Russian menu if Cyrillic is doable; the kitchen makes more there.
Soul Food$$harlemWed-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun-Tue 11:00-20:00
Sylvia Woods's Harlem soul-food restaurant has served fried chicken, collards and yams in New York City since 1962. Kitchen leans soul food.
Signature: Smothered chicken, Cornbread
Order: Smothered chicken, candied yams, cornbread.
Tip: Sunday brunch books up two weeks in advance. Weeknight dinner is the easy seat for the same menu.
Soul Food$$$harlemMon-Thu 12:00-21:00, Fri 12:00-22:00, Sat 23:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-21:00
Marcus Samuelsson's Lenox Avenue Harlem room runs an Afro-Swedish-Southern hybrid menu in New York City. Priced at $$$. Kitchen leans soul food.
Signature: Yard bird fried chicken, Helga's meatballs
Order: Yard bird fried chicken with mac and greens.
Tip: Sunday brunch is the room's big draw; bookings essential. Bar walk-ins for a quick supper around 18:00.
Soul Food$$harlem
Amy Ruth's on West 116th Street has served chicken and waffles in Harlem, New York City since 1998. Order the the reverend al sharpton: chicken and waffles.
Signature: Chicken and waffles, Smoked turkey wing
Order: The Reverend Al Sharpton: chicken and waffles.
Tip: Weekend brunch is the destination; weeknight dinner serves the same plate without the wait.